The East Bay Business Times reports that an insurance industry coalition has sought a preliminary injunction to block California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi from implementing an order that would require insurance companies selling long term disability (LTD) insurance in California from reducing LTD payments by Social Security disability benefits.
Dec 16, 2005
Clay Shaw To Have Cancer Surgery
The Miami Herald reports that Clay Shaw, former chairman of the House Social Security Subcommittee, will have surgery on January 4, 2006 to remove a cancerous tumor in his left lung. This is a recurrence of a cancer that was first removed in 2003.
Washington Post on ALJ Changes
The Washington Post reports on the recent changes in the rules concerning Administrative Law Judges (ALJs). The major change is to remove provisions from the regulations detailing how ALJ applicants are considered and tested. This will allow greater flexibility in hiring accordirg to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), since the details could be announced in the job posting.
New Limits on Replacement Social Security Cards
Social Security has published new rules to limit the number of replacement Social Security cards that may be ussued to an individual to three in a year and ten over a lifetime, with exceptions for unusual circumstances.
Social Security Low Priority at Conference on Aging
According to the Senior Journal, the White House Conference on Aging has closed with a long list of resolutions adopted. Somehow, no resolution on Social Security came out in the top ten list of resolutions, although it is hard to imagine a topic that is of more concern to seniors.
Dec 15, 2005
California Social Security Lawyer Under Investigation in Oregon
Daniel Bernath, a lawyer who is licensed in California but who was denied bar admission in Oregon, is drawing attention from the Oregon bar for possible unauthorized practice after running newspaper ads in Oregon seeking Social Security clients by promising to cut the wait time for a hearing to a few weeks and reminding potential clients that they could switch lawyers, according to a wweek editorial.
June 18, 2006 Addendum:
Mr. Bernath has e-mailed me six months after this was first published to complain that the underlying article in wweek was unfair to him in using the work "promise" in describing what Mr. Bernath was saying to prospective clients. Here is a quote from a portion of Mr. Bernath's website:
June 18, 2006 Addendum:
Mr. Bernath has e-mailed me six months after this was first published to complain that the underlying article in wweek was unfair to him in using the work "promise" in describing what Mr. Bernath was saying to prospective clients. Here is a quote from a portion of Mr. Bernath's website:
- You have an absolute right to switch attorneys at any stage of your Social Security Disability case.
- Ask me how I can speed up your wait to a few months or weeks. Most people waiting for Social Security disability benefits have to wait a year and a half before a hearing and then months for the written decision of the Judge.
SSA Downsizing Leads to New Building in Birmingham
GlobeSt.com reports that work has begun on a new 587,000 square feet building which will be leased to house Social Security's Southeastern Program Service Center in Birmingham, AL. The annual lease payments will be $15.38 million. The new building is to be half the size of the current building, due to downsizing.
Bush Not Done With Social Security
According to an article in the Washington Times:
President Bush will again pursue Social Security reform next year and has been frustrated by Democrats' unwillingness to address ensuring the entitlement's long-term viability, his chief economic adviser said yesterday.
"This president is not going to give up on Social Security," said Allan Hubbard, director of the president's National Economic Council.
The response of one prominent Democrat was to quote the President: "Bring it on."
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